Rise of the Riptide! | Ducktales 2017

(9) Riptide Rises!

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    Ariel's eyes were glued to the window as the limo drove further and further away from the city. Ever since Launchpad picked her up in front of the bin, he'd been throwing her worried glances through the rear view mirror.

    "I'm fine Launchpad, really." Ariel winced at the way her voice cracked. It did nothing to reassure the driver.

    "Fenton was right, after all. I just wasn't ready... and maybe I'll never be ready. I was in way over my head. I thought I could be like my hero, but I ended up dooming him instead."

    Ariel slid down in her seat. "I was never meant to be a hero. I'm nothing like Gizmoduck."

    Launchpad turned his body towards the back seat, giving Ariel a puzzled look. "Who says you have to be like Gizmoduck? Sure he's got the cool suit and awesome brand, but it's not the gizmos that make him a hero. It's the person inside. Take Darkwing Duck, for example!"

    It was Ariel's turn to look confused. Launchpad's puzzled face warped into a look of horror. "You don't know Darkwing Duck?!?"

    Ariel tilted her head in confusion. Launchpad tried again. "You know, from the greatest TV show of all time?"

    At her hesitant little head shake, Launchpad pulled over sharply. Ariel let out a surprised yelp as she was jolted to the side.

    "He's the superhero in my favorite TV show!! Sure- he doesn't have powers or high tech suits, but he still uses what he has to save his city."

    He showed her the bobble head on his dashboard.

    "Gizmoduck may have his suit, but there's still a normal guy stirring the wheel. Same with DW and his gadgets. Having the gadgets and gizmos and powers are great and all, but it's the person underneath that decides what to do with it. And making that decision to save people is what makes them a hero."

    Ariel's eyes widened at the unexpected wise words. She looked down at the small shell sitting on her neck; it hung closely to her heart. She remembered what Gizmoduck had told her.

    "You already have the heart of a hero, you know that? That's something not everyone has."

    Maybe that's what he meant. Maybe her impulsive move that day at the convention wasn't just an impulsive move. Her powers actually worked at that moment after all.

    She suddenly remembered her unstable magic and frowned. "But how can I trust myself to make that decision if I can't even control my powers."

    Launchpad paused in thought for a brief moment. "Maybe it's not about control. Have you tried- like, working with it?"

    The girl froze. "What do you mean?"

    "Well... it's like crashing! I put the key in the ignition and I kind of let it do its thing. That's how I get into the best crashes!"

    Trying to ignore the... questionable driving method, Ariel thought about Launchpad's deeper message.

    Just... work with it? It wasn't an improbable solution. In fact, it actually made sense. Gizmoduck had told her to trust herself more after all. Maybe that's all it took.

    She took a deep breath and gave it a try. She let the energy flow through her, this time not pushing it out or trying to dictate it.

    A wisp of water came out of the shell and swirled around her fingers gracefully. Ariel's eyes sparkled with surprise. It worked- it actually worked-!! She looked up to see Launchpad watching her in amazement.